3. Preparations

Hermione didn't let go of Harry's hand until they were in his, now their, bedroom, where she turned and kissed him passionately once more. The kiss lasted several more minutes until they needed to break for air.

"Are you sure, Hermione?" he asked her tenderly after regaining his breath.

"As sure as I can ever be," she answered confidently. Her expression suddenly changed. "There's one thing I want you to know before we start, though."

Harry was surprised to see her suddenly hesitant.

"I don't care if I'm not your first..." he started.

"It's not that. I've never had sex with anyone, but... technically... I'm not a virgin." She said the last words very fast.

"What do you mean?" he was confused.

Hermione took his hands in hers before explaining. "It was when they first started doping us with the potion. I was sure I was going to shag Ron as soon as I get a chance, yet I knew he wasn't the most considerate person and I feared he would hurt me too much in his haste. I was sharing room with Ginny at that time, and you were still kept with the Dursleys."

She seemed to arrange her thought for a moment. "Ginny asked me what was bothering me, and as she was the only girl near my age there, I told her. 'That's no problem,' she said. 'You have a hair brush, don't you? The handle is about the same size as their penis. Just masturbate a bit, until you are wet and ready, and then push the handle in. It will break your hymen and you can still control the pace and the force. I did this soon after my twelfth birthday,' she told me."

She now blushed deeply. "I did it as soon as she left the room. Ron never really tried. Despite drugging me with the potion, he probably had no clue. Lavender tried to teach him for awhile and gave him up as a lost case." She chuckled a bit saying this.

"So, I'm still your first?"

"You will be, once we shag. Do you have any previous experience?"

"No. Ginny tried to drag me to her bed more than once, but I pretended not to get the gross hints. It just didn't seem right, despite the potion."

They didn't talk anymore. They clung to each other, starting the natural ritual that is as ancient as life itself, forgetting everything else.

It was several hours and multiple orgasms later when they were able to talk coherently again. Both were sweaty and happy. They were hugging each other, their chests touching and their legs intertwined.

"That was brilliant!" Harry exclaimed.

"I never believed sex could be so... WOW! Whenever I heard other girls talking it was more like something that the boys like very much and the girls find it nice, at best. They won't believe me if I would ever tell them how grand it is with you." She smiled coyly. "Not that I would ever tell them, as long as you keep me satisfied..."

They kissed once more before their exhaustion took over and they fell asleep.

"Master and Mistress need to wake up!"

Kreacher's voice was not welcome by Harry. He covered his head with a pillow, trying to go back to sleep.

"Really, Master! It's not becoming of Lord Potter-Black to disregard his duties," the house-elf admonished him.

"What is it, Kreacher?" Hermione's sleepy voice asked, her face still hidden by her bushy mane on Harry's shoulder.

"You have a meeting at Gringotts in less than an hour," the elf informed them.

"Gringotts?" Harry asked in alarm.

Kreacher rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Yes, Gringotts. Haven't you seen the letter they sent you yesterday afternoon?"

"We went directly to bed..." Harry mumbled half apologetically.

"Well, you need to hurry. Your clothes are on the chairs at the side of the bed, the bath is full of hot water and breakfast will be ready in twelve minutes. You should start moving now."

The new Kreacher, changed by the events of the war and the last battle was very different from his old self and from Dobby, the deceased loyal house-elf as well. While extremely loyal, he was in some ways like a parent taking care of a child. He did everything his role required but also gave advice and demanded Harry act properly, admonishing him as needed.

"We don't have time to take bath separately," Hermione decided. "We shall bath together and then get clothed and go down for breakfast."

She walked out of bed wearing only a smile, to the astonishment of Harry. This was a different Hermione, one he was eager to know closer. He soon followed her steps and stopped at the bathroom door. He just couldn't get enough of her. He admired her lithe body, her feminine curves, her beautifully round breasts, her...

"Harry, I need you to wash my back! Please hurry! You'll have time enough to gaze at me later."

He was fully awake right now, but he still felt as if he was dreaming. This was too good to be true... Yet it didn't last long. Five minutes later, Hermione dried them both with a spell. "It's quicker than using the towel," she explained. A few more minutes were spent on putting on their clothes and combing their hair (Hermione used a brush and some spells to get her hair right, while Harry just moved a comb through his hair once, knowing it was futile).

The letter from Gringotts was waiting for them on the kitchen table. Harry was quite apprehensive when he took it in his hand.

"Dear Lord Potter,

Due to the changes that occurred during the last few weeks, we feel that we need your involvement at the directions your investments should take. We suggest you meet us tomorrow at ten in the morning. Your account manager as well as our advisors will be available at your service for the rest of the day as much as needed.

This letter may be used as a portkey by tapping our emblem with your wand. You may also use our hidden entrance from muggle London. It is in the block next to the Leaky Cauldron. You'll find a blue painted door with a large 'G' on it. Push the bell button and it will open. You may also use our main entrance, of course, but due to your current position it may draw a crowd, which can be quite upsetting.

We also regret to inform you that you were fined one hundred Galleons for breaking into a vault and damaging the Bank's property. While we are fully aware of the circumstances that made this act necessary for finishing the war we still need to show our displeasure with your act. Your accomplices were also fined fifty Galleons each.

We consider this to be the end of this incident and hope to never have to take similar actions with you in the future.

Please inform us until midnight if you wish to change the time for our meeting. If we don't get any such letter we will be awaiting you at ten sharp. Please be punctual.

On behalf of Gringotts Bank,

Crushbone, the Potter account manager."

He wasn't sure how he should feel about this. He silently handed the letter to Hermione.

"You must be one of their biggest clients," she noted after reading.

"Why do you say so?"

"First they call you 'Dear Lord Potter'; then they have an account manager dedicated to your businesses, probably with a few aids as well; and now they fine you a hundred Galleons for a damage that was probably close to a million, just to show their displeasure. I believe they would have put anybody else to work in the mines for the rest of his life to repay the damage."

Harry paled considerably at her words. "They could just send this to lure me to the bank..."

"Haven't you noticed the addendum?" He shook his head.

"Here it is:

Lord Potter,

I know that due to the events prior to the last battle you may feel quite reluctant to come into the bank, fearing our revenge. I assure you that there's nothing for you to fear. We've spent quite some time repairing the damage and assessing the benefits gained by the fall of the Dark Lord. All in all we believe that your act raised our profits for this year considerably, so nothing more than a token penalty is in order.

Just to assure you even more, I hereby give my magical binding oath that you will not be harmed in any way and will not be held by us against your will. You will come and go as you please and we shall continue serving you to the best of our ability.

Respectfully yours,

Ragnock,

General Manager of Gringotts

He used blood for the signature."

"So, you think it is safe?

"As safe as going any other place."

It was almost ten when they finished breakfast. Hermione made sure that Harry looked presentable and then they used the portkey and landed in Crushbone's office.

"Very punctual! I like it," they heard, before noticing a richly dressed goblin sitting at the large desk. Two chairs were facing the other side of his desk and several more were arranged in two rows, a short distance farther from his desk.

"Please be seated," the goblin said. "I see you've brought Lady Potter with you..."

"I'm not..." Hermione cut him out.

"Oh, sorry, It's not official yet, although we know about it for several months already."

"You do?" both teens asked.

The goblin chuckled. "It's our job to know every thing important about our big clients, and Lord Potter is our biggest."

"I am?"

"Oh, I can see this is going to be more difficult than I expected, so let me start with the basics..."

They spent most of the day in that office. Crushbone gave them a short walk-through of the Potter history and then of the Potter current holdings. They took a break for a rich lunch, which was brought in for them, courtesy of Gringotts, and then continued with a somewhat more detailed description of the major assets. It was dinner time when they finished.

"We shall have to meet another time to go over your Black holdings and the ones inherited by conquest from Riddle and Pettigrew," Crushbone informed him, looking a bit tired as well.

"Thank you, Crushbone. It was really an eye opener," Harry replied.

They let Kreacher serve them dinner, each deep in thought. Kreacher noticed their mood and wasn't offended that they didn't really pay attention to the food. He was just glad they seemed to get closer to each other.

"Have you understood how we became a couple?" Harry asked Hermione.

"He didn't really explain. He only said it appeared near Christmas and due to our status, being at the top of the 'undesirable' list, they didn't try to find out at the ministry. Maybe we should try to find out now?"

She frowned for a moment.

"What is it?" Harry asked.

"I just hoped to be able to go find my parents sooner," she sighed. "Ron didn't want me to go. He said they are happy as is, so why bother, and now I know he just didn't want me to get free of the potion. I thought I'll spend here a day or two, make the necessary arrangements, and then go to Australia, and hopefully bring them back before the next term starts. Now I don't know..."

"Why? I won't stop you. I think I'd like to join you. If nothing else – it would be a new experience for me; I mean – flying in airplanes, visiting other countries... I've never had a chance to experience any of these."

Hermione looked at him with some surprise.

"And I can also really help you, not be a nuisance like Ron. I can use the telephone, you know..."

They both chuckled. Hermione looked relieved a bit. "Well, we can discuss it tomorrow," she said. "Right now there's something much more important that I want to do."

Harry looked bewildered. He didn't remember any other plan they may have discussed.

"We need to repeat last night's shagging. I want to be sure that I can really enjoy it every time as much as I did yesterday."

Harry grinned widely as she took his hand and led him to the bedroom.

Kreacher didn't wake them the next morning, but they woke up early enough, with their limbs still entangled. They didn't have to hurry anywhere, so they spent some time making love tenderly, in contrast with the urgent and passionate love making of the previous nights.

"This was also highly enjoyable, although quite different," Hermione told him while they were washing and caressing in the large bathtub. "I believe it is good to start each day that way," she added. Harry just nodded his agreement.

During breakfast they decided to check for price and availability of plane tickets to Australia. The earliest vacancy in tourist class was three weeks away. Harry insisted on checking first class as well and bought them two tickets for the flight due in two days. His Platinum card, which he got from Gringotts, was happily accepted.

There was an owl awaiting them as they returned. "He wouldn't let me take the letter for you," Kreacher informed them. Harry recognized Pigwidgeon immediately, yet he was sure it wasn't a letter from Ron. He unfolded the parchment and read it loudly for Hermione's behalf.

"Dear Harry and Hermione,

I don't know where you are, but I'm sure you are finally together, as you should have been for some time now, if my ex brother and sister would have not interfered.

I actually want to inform you that Dad has done what was expected of him. He called us all to a family meeting and then asked each of the three to tell what he or she had done. Your enhanced truth potion still worked perfectly, making them spill some more details that we hadn't yet heard of. Molly was doping Dad since she first met him. She probably loved him then, as she couldn't have fallen for his money or his fame, but one cannot keep loving a person who's not really himself due to the potion. Dad denounced her and later handed her to the aurors.

Ron was just talking about how much he deserved everything that you've wanted. He had never really wanted Hermione, being of muggle descent, until he noticed Harry getting interested in her as more than a friend. He then asked Molly's help and she offered the potion. Our former leader, Albus, didn't actively encourage it, but eventually helped Ron. Why? I don't know.

Dad disowned him as well. The aurors wouldn't take him, being too young, but he might be better off if they took him. I was thinking of making him a partner in the shop before this whole mess was discovered, but that is no longer an option. Maybe Lee Jordan would find it interesting though.

I don't think Ginny ever had a chance to be normal. Molly had poisoned her mind with all those fake 'Boy-Who-Lived' stories since she was just a baby, promising her that she would eventually marry that boy. This also seemed to be in concert with Albus. I now think he may have wanted to get hold of Potter fortunes, whatever they are, and if Harry married Ginny and died, they would have split it between them. I hope I'm wrong at this.

Anyhow, Ginny is infatuated with the-boy-who-lived and would do anything to get her dream, yet she is realistic enough to know that until then, she should just live her life, which she interprets as shagging every available male around. Dad sent her to the mind ward at St. Mungos. I'm not sure there's much hope for her to make full recovery.

Dad wants to make an official apology to you, Harry, feeling it is a question of house honor. Just let him know where he could meet you publicly or privately – the choice is yours.

I wish you both luck and Harry – be nice to your lady, or I'll prank you to death. The irony would be that you're still the owner of a third of our business and you get your share of the profits regularly.

So, good luck, partner.

I wish you both a very joyful life,

George."

He lifted his eyes to Hermione. "What would you suggest?"

"I think we should go to the ministry and check why we're treated as a couple, then we can also pay Arthur a visit, before going shopping."

"Shopping?"

"You have practically no muggle clothes and I'm not in a much better situation. We need at least two sets of clothing for the trip. We shall need some more once we reach Australia, I believe, as the weather there is quite different."

Harry just nodded.

Soon after thanking Kreacher for lunch, they apparated into the Ministry. Harry was wearing a hat that hid his hair and his scar while Hermione just tied her hair in a tight bun. It wasn't a real disguise but it prevented immediate recognition.

They had no problem finding the Marriage Registration Office, but were disappointed to find that except for being registered as a married couple, there was no additional information.

"You may have said something that was interpreted as marriage vows, even if that wasn't what you openly meant," the clerk told them. "Do you remember what you were doing at the time?" She checked the registry once more. "It was Christmas eve, a few minutes after five."

"We were visiting Godric Hollow, disguised as an old couple," Harry told her.

"And you were referring to each other as...?"

"By name. We only joked we were husband and wife before we apparated there."

"What were you thinking at the time?"

Hermione blushed. "I thought I would have liked to really be his wife."

"And you?" the question was shot at Harry.

"I've never really thought of anybody else but her as my future wife."

"There you go!" the clerk told them as if she resolved a mystery. "Your magic and your hearts wanted this union and then you said a few words and it was done!"

Hermione smiled now. "Well, my husband, it looks like you're stuck with me."

"Just as you are stuck with me, and I wouldn't want it any other way!" he said heatedly.

Hand in hand they went to Arthur's office after thanking the Marriage clerk.

They saw Arthur sitting at his desk, his head bowed low and his body showing sadness and depression. He seemed to be reading something, but in reality he was just thinking of what had befallen his family. Why did Molly have to use that potion on others? He could live his life happily, oblivious to the fact that his affection was caused by a potion, and then she had to use it on Harry and Hermione, whom everybody could see they belonged with each other. She let Ron grow up an idiot with no iota of self restraint and let Ginny become a slut, just like her, according to her own admission. He was glad that his elder children understood him, at least. He loved them with all of his heart and appreciated their maturity. He wondered how such fine boys managed to come out of such a mother as theirs.

Harry coughed, bringing Arthur's attention back to reality. He turned his head towards the door and was surprised to see the couple. "Lord Potter, I'm honored to have you here..."

Whatever he wanted to say next was cut by Harry's words. "I'm still Harry, so please – don't Lord me."

Arthur relaxed a bit. "Well, Harry, I feel I need to formally apologize to you as Lord Potter. It weighs heavily on my heart right now."

Harry waved his hand, as if urging him to continue.

Arthur stood up in a formal stance and spoke solemnly. "As Head of the House Weasley I hereby apologize to the head of House Potter for any action taken by members of my house against you and the ones you love. Those guilty of these actions have already been disowned and will be punished to the extent set by the law. As further compensation, I'd like to offer House Potter the eternal alliance of the Weasley, if your lordship would accept it."

Harry also took a formal stance, somewhat negated by his casual clothing. "I, Harry James Potter, Head of the Noble House of Potter, hereby accept the apology of House Weasley and consider the events leading to this apology as fully repaid for. I also accept the alliance of the two houses as an act of friendship and mutual respect."

He extended his hand to Arthur who shook it willingly, causing a brief flash of light to appear, sealing the alliance.

"Now, Arthur, I want to offer you a job. I believe it will earn you more money than your current job and I'm sure you'll enjoy it much better."

Arthur looked a bit puzzled, but said nothing.

"I'd like you to be my representative at the Wizengamot. As I have two seats but only one bottom, I need somebody else to occupy the other seat for me and to further my ideas; someone I can trust."

Mr. Weasley seemed overwhelmed by the idea. "I'm not sure I'm the right choice. I've never been very influential and nobody cared about my opinions."

"With Potter name backing your words, people will listen very attentively, I'm sure."

"Then, I accept your offer and I would feel honored to do my best at representing you."

Harry took an empty parchment from the desk and wrote down the official letter, assigning Arthur his vote. "I'm going to help Hermione find her parents and I still need to finish my schooling. I'll need another representative as well. Can you recommend anybody?"

"Mr. Diggory has always supported our cause and is very well connected. I believe he could do this job well. You may also consider my son Percy. He's no longer the insufferable stuck-up snob and he has a very good knowledge of the ministry. He's also closer to your age," Arthur suggested.

"Talk with both of them on my behalf and see who would be more appropriate. I'll trust your judgment."

They left a very happy Arthur at his office, packing his stuff and preparing his resignation.

Please Review!